Police release sketch of I-15 rape suspect

Police have released a composite drawing of a suspect being sought for questioning in connection with the rape of a young woman who was changing a flat tire on I-15 near American Fork Tuesday night.

The suspect is described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a mole under his right eye and appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s, Utah Department of Public Safety Sgt. Fred Baird said.He was last seen wearing a light color T-shirt that was stretched at the neck, dark sweat pants, red boxer shorts, black sandals and a fine gold braided necklace.

Police are hoping to soon have a composite drawing of a second suspect involved in the rape, Baird said.

Conversations with the victim Thursday also produced a good description of the suspect's vehicle. Police now believe the car is a Mercury Zephyr, possibly a 1980 or 1982, dirty red in color with an antenna on the right seat passenger side and bears a Utah license plate that includes the letters G and H.

The victim, a 19-year-old woman, was changing her tire about midnight on the shoulder of northbound I-15 near Lehi when she saw the red car drive by and then apply its brakes. The vehicle took the next exit, circled around and then pulled in behind the victim's car.

Two men approached the woman and asked her if she needed help. The man who spoke to her used "broken English," the woman told police. When she declined the offer for help, she was grabbed and thrown into the back seat of her car.

The woman was raped at knife-point by one suspect, while the other pretended to be changing her tire. The men then switched roles and the woman was raped a second time before the two men fled.

Anyone with information in the case should contact Baird at 284-6200 or 284-6283.